Police launch investigation into computer hacking

An investigation into allegations of computer hacking is to be launched by a
team of police officers from Scotland Yard.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, who is leading the phone hacking investigation, will also head the team investigating computer hacking allegationsPhoto: REUTERS

9:26AM BST 30 Jul 2011

The Metropolitan Police said it is considering a number of breach of privacy allegations received since January.

The new team, to be formed under Deputy Assistant Commissioner Sue Akers, will examine matters not covered by the force's phone-hacking inquiry, Operation Weeting.

The new probe, called Operation Tuleta, follows claims that emails had been intercepted and computer files were hacked by individuals working on behalf of newspapers.

A spokesman for the Metropolitan Police said: "Operation Tuleta is currently considering a number of allegations regarding breach of privacy, received by the MPS since January 2011, which fall outside the remit of Operation Weeting, including computer hacking.

"Some aspects of this operation will move forward to a formal investigation.

"There will be a new team reporting to DAC Sue Akers. The formation of that team is yet to take place."

Operation Tuleta first came to public attention last June when Channel 4 News reported the code name in relation to a "scoping exercise" by the Metropolitan Police into the interception of emails and hacking into computer files.

The programme claimed that one alleged victim was a former undercover agent who infiltrated the IRA.

Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick responded by claiming officers were undertaking a "formal assessment" of the claims to determine whether a criminal investigation would be appropriate.

It comes as the mother of murdered schoolgirl Sarah Payne said she was "very distressed" after being told she may have had her phone hacked by the private investigator at the centre of the phone-hacking allegations.

The then editor of the News of the World Rebekah Brooks has said it was "unthinkable" anyone at the paper knew about the hacking of Ms Payne's phone.